World renowned guitarist, ‘Master Of The Telecaster’ Jerry Donahue from LA is our guest this November. Jerry has played sessions for many top bands and players from Jeff Beck to Joan Armatrading, Gerry Rafferty, Robert Plant, Elton John, The Proclaimers, Johnny Hallyday, George Harrison, Cliff Richard, Chris Rea, Warren Zevon, Bonnie Raitt, Hank Marvin, Roy Orbison, Nanci Griffith and The Yardbirds. In 1990 he founded guitar trio The Hellecasters with Will Ray and John Jorgenson.

Jimmy Moon, one of Britain's top luthiers will be there with his band "The Moonshiners" to play with JD, and some of the Voodoo Jam regulars will have a chance to step up on stage to jam with Jerry. This is one night no muso should miss!   As ever, from 9.00 pm in the Speakeasy.  Tickets £5.00 in advance from:  http://www.amiando.com/jamminatthevoodoo.html, or on the door on the night (if there are any left!)

Part of the opportunity offered by Jammin' At Voodoo is the freedom for musicians to get up and play something outside their normal repertoire...in the past we've seen Todd Gordon sing The Kinks...this month a couple of of regular guests are promising to deliver something a little different, including a feature from an ex member of Sid Griffin's Coal Porters...be there on Thursday to hear more!

A very cool evening at the March Jamming At Voodoo – after we’d managed to get in to the Speakeasy at all, that is!

While house band drummer Greig Johnstone had arrived early to successfully install his kit prior to an early evening stint (playing keys) at the Jam House, the rest of us were left loitering outside while a locksmith was summoned to break in to the Speakeasy after relays of staff proved unable to open the security lock.  With soundchecking still under way at the advertised start time of 9.30, a late start was inevitable...

However, a varied roster of Jammers (Jammists?) tuned up in short order, and the ever-changing roster of faces on stage included Derek Smith (guit/vox, Main St Blues Band), Stevey Hay.. (guit/vox), welcome new faces William Young (vox) and Nick Gould (tenor sax, Jazz Main), Kevin Dorrian (drums),  Dennis Westerberg (vox/harmonica, The Offenders), Dave Wallace (guitar/vox, The Offenders),  John Mackenzie (drums, Main St Blues Band), Viara Ivanova (bass/vox, Who’s Your Mama Now), Rodrigo Bermejo (drums, Who’s Your Mama Now), Xose Figueroa (guitar/vox, Who’s Your Mama Now), James Carr (vox), Richard Price (guitar, The Ubiquitous Kings Of Rhythm), Nico Echallier (bass, TUKOR), Miles Baillie (drums, TUKOR), Chris Rutherford (harmonica), and Jim McKenzie (harmonica).  The irrepressible Ash Gupta (vox/guit) also took the stage mid-evening, resplendent in understated Ozwald Boateng whistle, for a brief Reggae & Soul oriented set.  House band stalwarts included Angus Rose (keys), Trav “Saxingh” Panesar (alto sax) Greig Johnstone (drums/keys) and your correspondent - Rod Kennard (bass).

Good to see a number of non-participating musicians in the room, including members of Dougie Maclean’s band, visiting from Perth;  jazz chanteuse Debbie Davis, drummer Mark Forshaw, and saxophonist Auriol Hodgson.  We’ll get you up next month!

It’s also been (for me) an enormous pleasure to see direct results from the networking opportunities offered by the evening, as Jammin’ At Voodoo regulars start to get to know each other, dep in each other’s bands, cross-fertilise with other Edinburgh Jam nights, and form new ensembles. Some of my professional muso pals ask me why I can be bothered to help run the night, and play, for no money.  That’s why.

....

We’ve have just had confirmation this morning that Neville Marten, Editor of “Guitarist” magazine for 15 years, now editor of “Guitar Techniques” & "Total Guitar" and editor at large of "Guitarist," will be our guest this Thursday, 29th January at the Voodoo rooms, fresh back from the NAMM Music Show in the States. 

Nev has been guitar tech for some of the greatest icons in the music industry and has been lead guitarist with Marty Wilde's band for decades. He can play in so many styles it's frankly not fair, so here's chance to jam with Neville or just come and watch the fun.

It's taken us a year to get Neville here, to follow the great night we had with Jerry Donahue, so make sure you do not miss this event! The show starts at 8.30 and ends at midnight. Admission is free and the venue, as ever,  is The Voodoo Rooms, West Register Street, over the Café Royal.

See also http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://www.thevoodoorooms.com%2F.

Jammin' @ Voodoo will reconvene in the first session of 2009 on Thursday, January 29th.  In the meantime, have a great Christmas and New Year!